Shipping-crate.



I PATENTED MAY 15, 1906.

G. B. WHEELER.

SHIPPING CRATE.

APPLICATION $11.31) 00.119. 1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

z m w 0 m a PATENTED MAY 15 1906 G. E. WHEELER. SHIPPING CRATE.

APPLICATION FILED 0OT.19. 1905- 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

[32} AZ. A? 45' 6 gmvawtoz UNITED STATES PATENT FFIGE.

GEORGE E. WHEELER, OF BURLINGTON, 101V A, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIRD TO W. W.COPELAND AND ONE-THIRD TO H. G. SHELBY, OF BURLING- TON, IOWA.

SHIPPlNG-CRATE.

' Specification of Letters Patent.

ratenteol May 15, 1906.

Application filed October 19, 1905- Serial No. 283,492.

To aZZ whom it may col merit:

Be it known that I, GEORGE E. WHEELER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Burlington, in the State of Iowa, have invented certain newand useful Improvements in Shipping-Crates and I do declare thefollowing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention,such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains tomake and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in foldable or collapsible cratesor boxes adapted f cir shipping poultry, merchandise, and the The objectof the invention is to provide asimple, durable, and inexpensiveshipping crate or boX, which may be readily collapsed when empty, sothat it may be returned to the shipper. at a comparatively smallexpense.

The above and other objects, which will appear as the nature of myinvention is better understood, are accomplished by means of theconstruction illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1is a perspective view of my im.- proved shipping-crate, showing the samein its open position. Fig. 2 is a similar view of the same in its closedposition. Fig. 3 is adetail perspective view showing how the sides ofthe crate are folded inwardly when the latter is collapsed. Fig. 4 is avertical longitudinal sectional view taken through the crate when in itsopen position. Fig. 5 is a similar view through the same when in itsclosed position. Fig. 6 is a horizontal sectional view through the cratein its folded position, and Figs. 7 and 8 are detail views.

The embodiment of my invention, herein shown in the form of ashipping-crate, is so constructed that its sides and ends fold inwardlybetween its top and bottom, to which they are pivotally connected, andits top telescopes within its bottom, so that the crate is extremelycompact when folded. The crate 1, as shown, comprises a bottom 2 and atop 3, both of rectangular form and one of less size than the other topermit the latter to telescope within it. As shown in Figs. 2 and 6, thebottom is of greater size than the top in order to receive it. Thebottom is solid and sur rounded by a downwardly-extending rim or flange4, and the top is open or slatted and surrounded by a similar rim orflange 5. The top and bottom are connected by the slatted sides 6, theconnection being effected, as clearly shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings,by pivoting the end bars 7 of said sides at their upper ends to the endflanges 5, as shown at 8, and by pivoting to the end flanges 4, as shownat 9, cross bars or braces 10, which latter have their central portionspivoted, as at 11, to the central portions of the end bars 7. These bars7 and 10 thus form levers which are adapted to brace the top and bottomapart when the crate is open and to fold between the end flanges 4 and 5when the crate is closed. The slatted ends 13 of the crate are hinged attheir upper ends, as shown at 14, to

the under side of the top 3, so that they swing inwardly or toward eachother when the crate is folded or collapsed. In the top 3, preferably atits center, I provide an open- .ing 15, through which the poultry or thelike may be inserted or removed, and I close this opening by a door 16.The latter may be pivoted or hinged or slidably mounted, as shown in thedrawings.

Any suitable means may be provided for locking the parts of the crate intheir open or closed positions. As shown, the ends 13 are locked intheir open position by catches 17 or by any other suitable fasteningdevice, and the sides 6 are locked in their open position, so that thepivoted cross-bars 7 10 will brace the top and bottom apart by fasteningdevices 18. The latter may be in the form of sliding bolts or catchesadapted to pass through alining openings in the bars 7 10, as shown inthe drawings, or they may be of any other desired form and construction.When the crate is in its folded or closed position, shown in Fig. 2 ofthe drawings, its parts may be locked in such position by the catches orfastening devices 19 or by any other suitable means.

While the embodiment of my invention herein set forth is in the form ofan open or slatted'poultry-crate, it will be understood that by makingthe parts solid the same may be used as a box for shipping merchandiseor the like. Owing to the fact that all of the parts are connectedtogether, there being no loose parts, there is little or no liability ofthe parts becoming lost or misplaced, and owing to the fact that thedevice may be folded or collapsed to occupy but little space the samemay be shipped and stored at a comparatively small expense.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, the construction and operation of the inven tionwill be readily understood Without requiring a more extended eXlanation.

Various changes in the fbrm, proportion, and the minor details ofconstruction may be resorted to without departing from the principle orsacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

The herein-described boX or crate comprismg the top and bottom, thepairs of connecting-bars 7, 10 at the corners thereof, said bars 7 beingpivotally connected at their upper ends to the top, said bars 10 beingpivotally connected at their lower ends to the bottom, and one of eachpair of said bars having a locking device to engage and lock the otherto detachably secure said bars together in overlapped vertical position,the sides attached to the bars 7 and foldable between the top and bottomWhen said pairs of bars 7, 10 are in folded position, and ends, hingedto the top and foldable thereunder, substan tially as set forth. I

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing Witnesses.

GEORGE E. WHEELER. Witnesses: LAURA E. WHEELER,

ELIZA STENTIFORD.

